Japanese global healthcare company Terumo BCT is to create 416 jobs in Larne, Co Antrim.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness announced the new jobs during a visit to the plant today, where products used in the treatment and transfusion of blood are manufactured.

The new jobs will comprise entry-level manufacturing, scientific, microbiology, chemistry and engineering as more equipment is introduced, The Belfast Telegraph reported.

Invest NI is supporting the new jobs with stg£2m, some of which will help the factory expand into research and development, BBC News reported.

Tina comes to Ireland from Canada, where she held senior editorial positions at daily newspapers in Ottawa and Toronto. When she’s not saving dangling participles or managing production at Siliconrepublic.com, she’s training for 10K races or satisfying a craving for scones.